Boxmaking machine



July 24, 1951 c. s. slLLARs BOX MAKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1948 y 1951 G. s. SILLARS BOX MAKING MACHINE 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed May 6, 1948 Patented July 24, 1953 BOXMAKIN G MACHINE George S.

Sillars, Beverly, Mass., assignor to Hoaguc-Sprague Corporation, Lynn, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 6, 1948, Serial No. 25,460

Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for making boxes and is illustrated as embodied in a machine of the type in which an operator successively presents opposite ends of a box blank to box forming mechanisms. An object of the inven tion is to provide improved mechanism of simple construction by which a box blank is formed into a completed box.

As illustrated herein, a box blank, the side wings of which have been folded at right angles to the bottom, is presented bottom face up to a member by which the corner laps are folded inwardly toward each other and is then presented to mechanism by which glue is applied to an end wing which lies in the plane of the box bottom. The blank is then moved by the operator past a folding member which operates to turn the end wing down at a right angle to the bottom of the box and into contact with the corner laps. The corner lap folding, gluing, and end wing turning instrumentalities are illustrated as similar to those shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,186,977, granted January 16, 1940, on an application filed in the name of C. D. Knowlton. After the end wing has been turned into contact with the corner laps the partially completed box is presented to a combined end wing extension folding member and box end pressing mechanism, the box being turned into a vertical position by the operator with the end of the box to be completed uppermost.

The end wing extension folding member comprises a vertically disposed plate having a rearwardly inclined lower portion against which the end wing extension is pressed by the operator, the extension being bent inwardly by pressure thereagainst. The box is then moved upwardly over the plate, causing the end wing extension to be bent at a right angle to the end of the box, this movement continuing until the box end clears a form or anvil mounted at the upper end of the plate whereupon the box is moved rearwardly by the operator so that the end wing extension is bent against the inside of the box end and the end is supported by the anvil. A movable press member is then moved downwardly and in cooperation with the anvil presses together the parts forming the end of the box.

In accordance with a feature of the invention the operation of the press member is initiated by pressure exerted through the bottom of the box by the operator against the. end wing extension folding plate. upon movement of the box into the proper position for the application of pressure to the end Thus the press member is operated thereof. By thus controlling the operation of the press member correct positioning of the box for the pressure-applying operation is assured irrespective of the size or height of the box.

The above and other features of the invention including various details of construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described by reference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is an angular view of one form of machine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 1a is a plan view of one form of box blank upon which the machine is designed to operate;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the clutch and actuating mechanism therefor, by which operation of the pressis controlled;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the mechanism for pressing the end of the box;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a brake associated with the drive shaft of the press;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are side elevations of the press members illustrating different positions of the box as it is presented thereto for a pressing operation; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the anvil of the press illustrating the operation of the member by which the press is controlled.

One form of box blank upon which this machine is adapted to operate is illustrated at 8 in Fig. 1a and includes side wings 0., end wings b, corner laps c and end wing extensions d. In forming the blank into a box, the side wings a, which are separated from the body of the blank by creases, are folded at right angles to the body of the blank and the corner laps c are then folded inwardly at right angles to the side wings. After glue has been applied to the inner face of the end wings b, they are bent into engagement with the adjacent faces of the corner laps and the end wing extensions (1 are then folded over against the inner faces of the corner laps to form a completed box. In operating upon a blank with the present machine each end of the box is treated separately and pressure is applied to one end of the box after the completion of the operations outlined above to unite the component parts of the box end into a single unit.

The machine includes, as its essential elements, a corner lap folder A, gluing mechanism B for applying glue to the end wing of the box blank, a folder C by which the and wing is fold ed against the corner laps, an end wing extension folder D, and a press E by which the parts F, forming the end of the box are pressed together.

The corner. lap folder A comprises a curved plate it against which the forwardly extending corner laps c, of a box blank, the side wings a of which have been turned at right angles to the bottom of the box, are pressed and turned inwardly toward each other as illustrated more particularly in the Knowlton patent referred to above. The plat extends lengthwise of the machine past the gluing mechanism B and terminates just short of the end wing folder C. The upper edge of the plate It forms a guide for supporting the end wing in-the plane of the bottom of the box which is held uppermost as the box is presented by the operator to the gluing mechanism and end wing folder.

The gluing mechanism B comprises a gluing roll 12 carried by a shaft 14 journaled in bearings I carried by the frame of the machine and the top of the roll [2 lies substantially in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of the plate l0. The shaft 14 is connected by gears 18, 20 to a shaft 22 carrying at its forward end a glue transfer roll 24 which transfers glue from a pot 25 onto the gluing roll l2. A roll 28 carried by a shaft'tl), urged downwardly by springs 32, is arranged to hold the end wing of the box in com tact with the gluing roll I2. Guide plates 34, 3t guide the entering end wing into the bight of the rolls I2, 28. Suitable driving mechanism, not shown, is connected by a bevel gear 38 to the shaft 22 to rotate the rolls 1 2, 2d constantly during the operation of the machine.

Located just beyond the end of the plate It in the path of movement of the box by the operator is the end wing folder C which is in the form of a scroll-shaped plate to having a curved surface 42 which deflects the end wing from its horizontal position to a substantially vertical position so that it approaches and contacts with the outside of the corner laps of the box. The corner lap folder A, gluing mechanism B and the end wing folder C are substantially like the corresponding elements illustrated and described in the Knowlton patent to which reference may be had for a more complete description and explanation thereof.

After the end wing has been folded into contact with the corner laps the box is then turned into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5, with the end wing extension (1 which extends above the top margin of the box in theplane of the end wing, in contact with a vertically disposed plate 46 having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined portion 48. This plate is carried by a rearwardly extending rod 53 which is slidable in the frame of the machine and passes through a supporting block 52 for an anvil 54. A light spring 56 seated in a recess in the forward portion of the supporting block 52 maintains the plate 46 in a position spaced slightly from the block as shown in Figs. 5,6 and '7 for a purpose to be described. This spring is strong enough so that movement of the box upwardly with the end wing extension in contact with the plate will not cause rearward movement of the plate. As the operator moves the box into contact with the lower end of the plate 46 and then upwardly over the surface of the plate, the end wing extension is first turned into an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 5, and then is turned into a position at right angles to the end wing, as shown in Fig. 6. After the box has moved upwardly a sufficient distance so that the end wing clears the anvil 54 the box is moved rearwardly so that the end of the box occupies a position between the anvil and a press member 58. The

press member 58 projects forwardly of the anvil 54 and acts as a stop in the upward movement date the increased thickness of the box end at its top margin, occasioned by the end wing extension, the rear portion of the anvil is recessed at fill so that when the press member 58 moves downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3 substantially equal pressure will be applied throughout the entire end of the box.

The upper press member 58 carries an upwardly extending stem 62 from the upper end of which projects a radially extending pin 64 which passes through vertical slots 66 formed in the lower portion of a U-shaped slide 68. This slide is mounted for vertical movement in a slideway formed by plates 10, 12 (Fig. l) secured to the frame of the machine, the frame of the machine also providingthe inner portion of the slideway. Springs 14 (only one of which is shown) connected between the top of the press member 58 and the plates-l2 act to maintain the press member 58 with the slide 68 in theelevated position as shown in Figs. 5 to 7 with the press mechanism at rest.

of the slide 68 is a roll I8 journaled on a shaft carried by the slide. This roll is held by the springs 14 (Fig. 1) in contact with a cam 82 secured to the forward end of a shaft 84 journaled in the top of the machine frame. With the press mechanism at rest the roll 18 engages a low portion of the cam 82 but upon rotation of the shaft 84 the cam 82 forces the roll 18 with the slide 68 downwardly to move the press member 58 into engagement with the end of a box supported by the anvil 54. The cam 82 is so shaped, as shown in Fig. 1, that the end of the box is held under pressure during the greater part of a revolution of the shaft 84.

For driving the shaft 84 during a pressing operation, mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided. J ournaled on the rearward end of the shaft 84 is a gear 86 having a forwardly extending hub portion 88 which surrounds but is spaced from the adjacent portion of the shaft 84. Engaged with the gear 36 is a pinion 99 on a shaft 92 which may be constantly rotated by any suitable mechanism so that the gear 86 is maintained in constant rotation. Keyed to the shaft 84 is a cam 94 having its periphery formed with a series of flat surfaces, between which and the hub portion 88 of the gear 86 is located a race 96 carrying a series of rolls 98. When the cam 94 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, from the position shown, relatively to the race $6, the rolls 98 are wedged between the fiat surfaces of the cam 94 and the interior of the hub 88 whereupon the gear 86 is connected to the shaft 34 to drive the shaft. The race 96 is provided at its forward end with a circular flange I00 having a radial keyway I02 in which is slidable a key connectedby a pin I06 with a trip cam I118 having; a loose fit on the shaft 84 journaled forwardly of the flange IIIII. The trip cam I08 is pivoted at I IIl to a-plate II-2 keyed to the shaft M. A spring H4, connected between a pin IIfi carried by the plate I I2 and a pin I I8- carried by the trip cam urges the trip cam in a direction relatively to the shaft 84 to move the cam 94 in a clockwise direction. The trip cam N12 has a shoulder I2ii. arranged at the completion of one revolution of the shaft 64 to engage a latch I22 whereupon the trip cam is moved against the action of the spring I I4 relatively to the shaft 84 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin III) causing the cam 94 to return to the position shown in Fig. 2 disengaging the gear 36 from the shaft 84. As soon, however, as the latch I22 is moved away from the shoulder I the clutch is re-engaged causing rotation of the shaft 84 and.

downward movement of the upper press member 58. It will be understood that any suitable form of one-revolution clutch may be substituted for the one shown. herein.

The latch I22 is carried by a lever I24 pivoted at I26 to the frame of the machine and urged by a spring I28 into engagement with the periphery of the trip cam I58. The lever I24 is moved in a clockwise direction when it is desired to operate the press mechanism. For this purpose the right end of the lever I2 5 is connected by a link I30 to an armature I32 of a solenoid I34 which when energized causes the armature I32 to be drawn inwardly, rocking the lever I24 in a clockwise direction.

The solenoid I3I has in its circuit a normally open switch I3t having a button I38 arranged when the button is depressed to close a circuit through the solenoid I 34 initiating operation of the press member 58. The button I38 is located in alinement with the rod 50 and upon the application of pressure to the plate 46 sufficient to overcome the spring 5% the rod 50 engages the button I38 closing the switch I36. ing the plate 46 the operator applies pressure thereto through the bottom of the box as illustrated in Fig. 3 when the box end is positioned on the anvil 54.

In order to insure that the shaft 84 will stop upon disengagement of the clutch a friction brake mm (Fig. 4) is provided. This brake includes a band I42 which substantially surrounds the shaft 84, one end of the band being connected to a rod I44 which passes loosely through a pin I46 connected to the other end of the band I42. The pin I46 passes through an extension I48 (Fig. 1) of a bearing I5Il for the shaft 84. The outer end of the rod I is threaded to receive a nut I50 which forms an abutment for one end of a spring I52 the other end of which engages the adjacent end of the brake band. By turning the nut I50 the action of the spring I52 is varied to vary the braking eifect of the band I42 which is adjusted so that the shaft 84 will come to rest immediately upon disengagement of the clutch.

In the operation of the machine, the operator takes a flat box blank and bends the side wings a down and then presents the corner laps c at one end of the box blank to the wall III, bending the corner laps inwardly with the end wing b extending over the top edge of the wall. The box is then carried by the operator along the wall the end. wing passing between the rolls I2, 28 whereupon glue is applied to the inner face of the end wing. The end wing i then'turned downwardly by the scroll-shaped plate 40 into engagement with the outer faces of the corner laps after which For thus movthe box is turned into a vertical position and the end wing extension d'moved into'eontact with the lower end of the plate 46, as shown in Fig. 5-, to start turning the end wing extension inwardly; The box is then moved upwardly as indicated In Figs. 6 and 7 until the end of the box engages the under surface of the forward p'ortionof the press member 58, whereupon the box is moved rearwardly as indicatedin Fig. 7 until the bottom of the box engages the plate 45. The boxis now positioned for the application of pressure to its end and operation of the pressure applying mechanism is initiated by the operator, as indicated in Fig. 8, by applying pressure, preferably with the thumbs, through the box bottom against the plate 45 which thereby functions as a' trigger. It is necessary only to apply momentary pressure to the plate at sufficient to energize the solenoid 834' withdrawthe latch I22 to permit engagemerit of the clutch. The shaft 84 now rotates through one revolution and, providing that the operator-has released pressure onfthe plate 46 permitting the solenoid to be de-energized, the clutch will be disengaged upon movement of the shoulder I20 of the trip cam I98 into engagement with the latch I22.

By controlling the operation of the pressure applying mechanism by pressure applied through the bottom of the box it will be understood that the box will always be correctly positioned for the application of pressure to its end regardless of the height of the box. The same trip may be employed without the necessity of making any adjustments for applying pressure to the ends of box covers as well as boxes inasmuch as the end of the cover will be properly positioned for the application of pressure when the top of the cover is brought into position against the plate or trigger 46.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

, cent to said press members for initiating operation of said mechanism, said trigger being positioned to lie within the box for actuation by pressure exerted through the bottom of the box upon movement of the box into position. for engagement by said press members.

2. In a machine for making boxes from. blanks having end wings and end wing extensions, relatively movable press members engageable with the inner and outer faces of the end of a partial- 13; formed box, power-operated mechanism. for moving one of said press members toward the other for applying pressure to said faces, a plate associated with said press members in contact with which the end wing extension is moved to bend the extension inwardly of the end wing, said plate being positioned to lie within the box and to be engageable by the bottom of the box when the end of the box is properly positioned between said press members, means mounting said plate for movement by force applied thereto by the operator through the bottom of the box, and means operated by said plate in response to such movement for controlling said mechanism.

3. In a box-making machine, relatively movable press members engageable with the inner amass.

and outer. faces of the end of a partially formed box, power-operated mechanism for moving one of said press members toward the other for applying pressure to said faces, a clutch for controlling said power-operated mechanism, a sole noid arranged upon energization, thereof for causing engagement of said clutch, a switch in they circuit to said solenoid, and a trigger for closing said switch, said trigger being positioned to lie within the box for actuation by pressure exerted through the bottom of the box as the box is brought into position for engagement by said press members whereupon said clutch is engaged and pressure is applied to the end of the box.

, 4, In a machine for making boxes from blanks having end wings and end wing extensions, an

anvil upon which the inner face of the end of a box is supported for a pressing operation, a horizontalpress member above said anvil movable downwardly to press the end of the box, poweroperated mechanism for thus moving said press member, a vertical plate below the forward edge of said anvil and positioned to lie within the box for engagement by the bottom of the box when the end of the box is positioned on said anvil for the pressing operation, means mounting said plate for rearward movement upon application of pressure thereto by the operator through the bottom of the box, and means operated in response to rearward movement of said plate for controlling said power-operated mechanism.

d 5. In a box-making machine, an anvil for supporting the inner face of theend of a partially completed box, a press member above said anvil movable toward it for applying pressure to the end of the box, power-operated mechanism for thus moving saidv press member, a

clutch in control of said power-operated mechanism, a solenoid, means operated upon energization of said solenoid for engaging said clutch, a plate below the forward edge of said anvil positioned to lie within the box for engagement ,by the bottom of the boxwhen the end of the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,106,727 OBrien Aug. 11, 1914 1,680,615 Hoba Aug. 14, 1928 2,186,977 Knowlton Jan. 16, 1940 2,249,201

Ferguson July 15, 1941 

